Power silk screen process printer and coater



July w, 1931.

| BLAND 1,815,021

POWER SILK SCREEN PROCESS PRINTER AND COATER Filed May 3l, 7 Sheets-Sheet l L Duz's .Bland July 14, 1931.

1 BLAND POWER SILK SCREEN PROCESS PRINTER AND GOATER Filed May 3l, 1950 7 Shems-SnaefI 2 SMM/110139 bm. Fw

Lamis .Bland July 14, 1931. BLAND 1,815,021

' POWER SILK SCREEN PROCESS PRINTER AND COATER Filed May 3l, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 wue/woz Louis Bland www Jly 14, 193i. l BLAND 1,815,021

POWER SILK SCREEN PROCESS PRINTER AND COATER Filed May 51, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 July 14, 1931. L BLAND 1,815,021

POWER SILK SCREEN PROCESS PRINTER AND COATER Filed May 3l, 19150 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 I 2 'j i Z 126 SWW/w50@ 79 Lauzs .Bland July 14, 193.1.

L. BLAND POWER SILK SCREEN PROCESS PRINTER AND CONI-ER Filed May 31, 1950 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Lauz's Bland @Mouw/1go July 14, 1931. 1 BLAND 1,815,021

POWER SILKKSCREEN PROCESS PRINTER AND COATER Filed May 31, 1950 '7 Sheets-Sheet '7 L'Dus .Bland Patented 'July 14, 1931 PATENT OFFICE LOUIS BLAND, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK Poway. slm: SCREEN rnoonss PRINTER AND 'comm Application led May `31 1930. Serial No. 458,632.

This invention relates to means for applying color by the silk screen process for producing deslgns or solid colors, the primary object of the invention being to provide a power driven machine which will-apply the color evenly and rapidly without wasteand which apparatus will be durable and maybe produced at a comparatively low cost. The invention provides means whereby a card, a sheet of paperor other material or other element upon which a color design is to be produced may be supported below a printing frame anda pressure device operated within the frame tov ,force the paint or other material through the silk screen which forms the bottom of the same, and lin which the pressure element will be reciprocated without attention from the operator and at the end of its movement in either direction will be automatically reversed and caused to travel in the opposite direction. The invention also provides means whereby the cardboard or sheetv of material will be firmly supported while the color is being applied thereto and will be automatically discharged after the application of the color. These stated objects, and other objects which will appear incidentally in the course of the following description, are

attained in the use of such an apparatus as is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and the invention resides in certain novel features which will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 isa side elevation of an apparatus embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same, v

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a ,transverse section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view showing the operating mechanism partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section,

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional View of parts shown in Fig. 5, the plane of the section being at a right angle to the plane of Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view of a part of the operating mechanism whereby reversal is effected,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail section through the storage tank and the pressure element showing the parts in the position in which coloring material is about to be discharged,

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8, 55 Illkig. 10 is aI bottom plan view of the storage ta v Fig. 11 is a detail section taken horizontally in the storage tank,

Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail section of a. o portion of the pressurel element,

Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the mechanism for clamping the printing frame in place, and

Fig. 14 is a detail view of a part of the trip 65 mechanism which cooperates with the pressure device. l

j The frame of the machine may be of wood or metal and of any appropriate design whereby to accommodate and support the various parts of the o erating mechanism. It should be of substantial construction so as to be strong and durable and also support the several working parts without vibration. The frame is preferably of rectangular form in plan View presenting end bars 1 and side bars 2 deiining an opening in which may be placed a printing frame 3, the bottom 4 of which is formed of a sheet of screen silk material which is stretched taut and rmly secured to the under sides of the printing frame in any convenient manner. To one end bar l, I secure a supplemental bar 5 having prongs 6 projecting `from its inner-surface at intervals and adapted to engage the adjacent end of the printing frame so as to iirmly secure the frame at said end and support it. Between the. opposite end of the printing frame and the opposite end bar 1 of the main frame is provided a movable clamping bar 7 which is also provided with spurs or teeth 8 corresponding in all respects to the teeth or spurs 6 and adapted to positively engage the adjacent end of theprinting frame. The clamp bar 7 is provided 95 with sleeve nuts 9 which are fixed in place and provide bearings for adjusting screws or threaded rods 10 extending longitudinally of the main frame adjacent the sides of the printing frame, as shown in Fig. 2. The

l ends ofl these adjustin fas screws extend through the respective en bars of the main frame and at one end they are. heldagainst withdrawal by any suitable means, such as' a cotter Apin indicated at 11, while adjacent their opposite extremities they are equipped with sprockets 12 about which is trained a sprocket chain 13, and one of t-he shafts is rovided witha crank or other form of hanle 14 whereby it may be rotated, the rotary motion being obviouslytransmitted to the other adjusting screw whereby they will be rotated simultaneously in the same direction and at the same speed. In the use of the machine, 'the printing frame is secured rigidly in place and the silk screen bottom thereof' 1s generally treated so as to form a stencil correspondingr to the sign or the display which it is desired to produce. To secure the printing frame in position, the clamping bar 7 is withdrawn by rotating the adjusting screws 10 in the proper direction and thereby causing the sleeve nuts 9 to ride along the screws, and, inasmuch as these sleeve nuts are fixed to the clamping bar, the clamping bar will, of course, be drawn toward the end of the main frame. The printing frame is then laced in position and will be manually held momentarily until the clamping bar is moved up against it by rotating the adjusting screws in the opposite direction, and the pressure exerted through the adjusting screws will cause the clamping bar to firmly engage the adjacent end of the frame and also force the frame against the bar 5 whereby the frame will 'be firmly secured in place. j

A'table 15 is disposed below the printing frame and very close to the bottom thereof so that a card or sheet of material placed upon the table will be held to the stencil or screen and, as pressure is exerted upon the coating matter placed upon the screen, said matter will be forced through the design or the meshes of the screen onto the cardboard or other material. This table 15 is supported upon legs 16 which are hinged at their lower ends to a portion 17 of the main frame Whereby the table may be rocked transversely of the main frame to permit the removal of a treated card or sheetand the substitution therefor of an untreated card or sheet'. The upper portion of each leg 16 is recessed, as at 160, defining a reduced member 161 and said reduced portions of the legs at the left side of the machine .are connected by a bar 162 whereby the legs will work in unison. A hanger 163 is hinged to and depends from the table in vertical a-linemcnt with cach leg and is hinged at its lower. end to the respectively adjacent leg at the bottom of thc recess 160 therein, as shown at 164, a retractile springr 165 being connected to the members 161 and v163 and acting constantly to draw said members together. A hookor main frame and mounte in Fig. 3 an includes a turnbuckle 23, the

inner end of which is pivoted or hinged u n the bar 162 and the outer end of whic is pivoted upon a crank 24 provided on a shaft 25 which is disposed lon itudinally of the in suitable bearings upon the side of the same. The shaft 25 is rocked to swing the table to the dotted line positioned in Fig. 3 and it is returned to the full line position by a retractile sprin 26 attached to the turnbuckle and to a xed point of the main frame. When the turnbuckle connection 23 is moved inwardly by rocking of the crank 24, a push is applied to the member 161 and the leg 16 is rocked inwardly, the alinement of the hanger 163 with the leg being broken so that the hanger moves downwardly While maintaining its perpendicularity. As a result, the initial movement of the table is directly downward and smearing of the work by movement of the wet color across the bottom of the screen is avoided. The direct dropping movement of the table continues until the upper end lof the member 161 impinges against the hanger 163, whereupon the hanger will be rocked sidewise and then shifted transversely to permit removal of the work, as will be understood on reference to the dotted lines in Fig. 3. On the return movement, the table will move transversely until it meets the stop bar 166 on the main frame and will then move vertically upward, being guided in such vertical movement by the stop bar. It will be understood that all the table supporting legs may be of the described construction, although it is sufficient if the legs at one side only are so constructed.

At that end of the main frame remote from the crank handle 14 and which, for convenience, will be referred to as the front end, I erect standards 27 having rearwardlyl projectin arms 28 at their upper ends, and supporte by and between the extremities of s aid arms is the tank or receptacle 29 in which the coloring matter is stored. The storage tank is provlded with a longitudinal slot 30 in its bottom through which the coloring matter may be discharged and a cut-off plate 31 is slidably mounted under the bottom to cut ofi' flow through the discharge slot 30, as will be understood upon reference to Fig. 8. As shown in said figure, the front edge of the lcut-off plate projects beyond the front side of the tank and is turnedidownwardly to form a .flange 32, a retractile spring 33 being attached to said flange and to the bottom of the tank to yieldably hold the plate in the cut-off position. The cut-ofi' plate is guided in its movements by pins or light rods 34 which are arranged at the ends of the slide 'and have their front ends turned laterally,

as shown at 35, to be secured t-o the flange 32 and-the under side of the slide, the main portion of these pins or'rods being engaged in and extending through guide sleeves or bearings 36 provided on the lends of the tank. The flange 32 has notches 37 formed therein and plates 38 are arranged to extend across theseV notches at the rear'sides thereof and thereby constitute closures for the same, the plates being mounted hingedly upon studs 39 carried by the' slide and torsion springs 40 being coiled around the studs to act upon the closure plates so as to yieldably hold them in the closed position. At the -front end ofthe main frame, and preferably at the center thereof, is a depressor or deilector arm 42 which has its rear end disposed immediately adjacent the front side of the tank and, as shown in Fig. 8, is curved downwardly from said rear end for a purpose which will presently appear. Adjacent the standards 27, standards 43 aresecured upon the main frame and these standards are arranged at the inner sides of the respective standards 27 and have rearwardly projecting arms 44 at their upper ends upon which aresecured cams or trips in the form of spring plates 45 each secured at one end to the respective arm 44 and having its opposite end free and its intermediate portion bowed upwardly, as shown at 46, said bowed portion being cutaway or recessed in its inner edge, as at47, whereby an object approaching the cani from the rear may ride up over the bowed portion and slip oftI the same through said recess so that on the return trip it will ride under the cani and out under the free end ot the same, this operation being indicated in Fig. 14.

lVithin the tank are partitions 48. These partitions are slidably supported on a rod 47 which extends from end to end of the tank and is secured by nuts 150 on its ends turned home against the ends. of the tank. As best vshown in Fig. 4, the rod 47 is disposed near the top of the tank and is smooth so that it constitutes a support upon which the partitions may easily slide, while in the lower portion of the tank a threaded rod 151 is mounted, the threads on the opposite end portions being relatively reversed and the extremities of the rod being smooth so that the rod may rotate in the end walls of the tank without moving endwise therein. The partitions have threaded engagement with the threaded rod so that they may move toward or from each other, according to the direction of rotation of the rod, and be thereby 'set to permit a discharge of material in the desired width. The partitions are of such contour that they conform to the interior of the tank and they have tenons 152 which lit closely but slidably in the upper outlet slot 30.

The threaded rod is held at one end against withdrawal by a nut 153. At its opposite end, it is equipped with a worm pinion 154 which mesheswith and is driven by a worm 155 mounted on the end of the tank and provided with a milled head 156 whereby it may bc turned to effect the desired adjustment of the partitions. The tank may be filled with one shade of coloring material but by providing the partitions I am enabled to use two or. more colors simultaneously and thus produce stripes upon the finished articleor 1 am enabled to avoid waste of material by supplying only the quantity of coloring matter needed to color an area of specified width on the cardboard or sheet of material.

From what has been said, it will be understood that the coloring matter in paste-like form is deposited in the tank and is fed therefrom at intervals into the printing frame and is spread over the bottom of the frame and expressed through the same onto the cardboard or sheet of material upon the table 15. To express the coloring matter from the printing frame, I employ a pressure element in the form of a squeegee. Said squeegee element comprises an upper casing 49 which is of inverted U-shape in cross section, shown clearly in Figs. 8 and 12, and is secured at its lower edges to a carriage which includes parallel transverse bars 50 having their ends connected by plates 51 respectively upon `which are secured extensions 52- which are secured upon the upper ends of rests 53 having feet 54 at their lower ends slidably mounted in tracks 55 secured upon the main frame. Endless sprocket chains 56 are also secured to the rests or runners 53 and have their bights trained around sprockets 57 at the opposite ends of the main iframe` power being imparted to these lchains in the operation of the machine, as -will presently appear. Within the hous` ing 49.is an inner housing 58 which is also of inverted U-shape in cross section and extends downwardly through the open lower end of the casing 49, as shown clearly in Fig. 8. Secured upon the top of an intermediate casing 167 and projecting beyond the ends of the same is a rod 59 upon which bear the ends of a bowed spring 60 which is secured at its center within the housing 49, as clearly shown in Fig. 9. The` inner casing 58 is retained within the upper and intermediate casings by bolts or rods 61 extending through the sides of the inner casing and having their ends playing in vertical slots 62 in the sides of the upper casing whereby relative vertical movement of the inner casing is permitted. It will be noted that the openings in `the sides of the casinor 167 fit closel about the pins or bolts 61 and the casing 16 fits closely within the casing 49 so that canting of the bolts will be prevented, but the openings in the casings 58 are of greater diameter than the pins or bolts to permit tilting of said' casing 58 and the squeegee carried thereby according to the direction of travel of the squeegee. A head block 63 is fitted within the casing 58 and is provided adjacent its ends with threaded openings 168 in which are engaged threaded studs 64 which project upwardly and have knurled heads 65 "which project through horizontal slots 66 provided therefor in the casing 58 whereby the heads and studs will be held against relative vertical movement and rotation of the same will effect vertical adjustment of the block, it being noted upon reference to Fig. 3 that the upper and intermediate casings are recessed at their ends to accommodate the heads. On the lower edge of the block 63 is secured a track or holder 67 consisting of a plate having its side edges formed into' re-entrant flanges adapted to be engaged by the projecting edges of a plate 68 secured upon the upper edge of a cap 69 carrying the squeegee proper 70.

The member 70 may be of rubber or similar material and the cap 69 is preferably of meta-l or some other rigid material which will firmly hold the elastic or resilient sheet 70. By properly manipulating the heads 65 the lower edge of the element 70 may be caused to bear upon the screen forming the bottom of the printing frame with any desired force so that the parts may be adjusted according to the viscosity of the paste-like paint, the thickness with which the material is to be deposited, the wear upon the rubber, and other elements well known to the workers in this art. When the rubber 70 is worn out, it may be renewed without disassembling the entire machine or requiring a new squeegee mount. The printing frame is released and may be lifted out of place and set to one side, whereupon the cap 69 may be slid endwise to be Withdrawn from the holder 68, a new rubber being then fitted in the cap. The cap is then reengaged in the holder by an endwise movement and the printing frame returned to `place.

Slidably mounted in vertical guides 71 on the front side ofthe casing 49 are triggers 72 which have their lower ends connected by a bowed portion 73 which projects above the top of the casing 49 and is engaged by a lifting spring 74 tending constantnly to raise the triggers and said bowed portion. As the squeegee nears the forward limit of its movement, the triggers 72 will enga-ge the closure plates 38 and will thereby impart a forward movement to the cut-off 31 so lthat the discharge slot 30 will be uncovered and a quantity of the paint may drop atonce into the printin frame and onto the screen. As the Ifor-war movement of the parts continues, they rch or bowed portion 73 will ride against the downwardly extendin portion of the deilector arm 42 and wil be thereby depressed sufficiently to be released from the closure plates.38 and ride under the same. On the return movement, the spring 74 will lift the arch or bowed member 73 to its normal position and the projecting ends of the triggers will ride against the front sides of the plates 38 which will yield thereto and permit the triggers and the squeegee to return without impedance. It Awill be understood that as soon as the triggers have cleared the plates 38, the slide will be returned to its cut-off position by the spring 33. As the squeegee is carried forwardly and paint is discharged in the described manner, the projecting ends of the rod 59 will ride onto the bowed portions 45 of the forward trips and the squeegee will thus be lifted against the action of the spring 60 so that the edge of the squeegee rubber 70 will be raised from the screen permitting the rubber 7 0 to `swing into a perpendicular position instead of retaining the inclined position which it assumes as it is moved over the screen. The continued forward movement of the squeegee will cause the ends of the rod 59 to pass into the recesses or notches 47, whereupon the squeegee will be lowered onto the screen and be in position-to ride over the same on the return movement. To effect the reversal of the pressure element 70 of the squeegee at the rear end of its movement, cams 75 are provided corresponding in all respects to the cams 45, these cams 75 being carried by forwardly projecting arms 76 at the upper ends of standards 77 secured upon the clamping bar 7.

The power to drive the machine may be taken from any convenient source, but I prefer to provide a separate motor for each machine and have conventionally illustrated an electric motor 78 adjacent the main frame and mounted upon the floor of the workroom or upon sills of the .main frame. The motor shaft is geared to a vertical shaft 79 through speed reduction gearing mounted within a gear case 8O and which may be of any convenient form. The shaft 25, which has been previously mentioned, has its forward end disposed adjacent the shaft 79 and equipped with a gear 81 with which a pinion 82 is adapted at times to mesh whereby to rock the crank shaft for tilting the table and discharging the completed work. The pinion 82 is carried by a sleeve 83 which is slid'ably mounted upon the shaft 79 and is constructed at its upper end to form a clutch 84 adapted when the sleeve is in its raised position to lock the sleeve to the shaft 79 for rotation therewith. The sleeve 83 carries a bracketv los 4 mally held in its lowered position by a. spring `angle lever 88 which is loosely mountedon a shaft 89 which extends across the front end of the main frame and carries the forward sprockets 57, the end of said shaft upon which the arm 88 is mounted extending into a housing frame 90, mounted upon the side of--ithe main frame, and being therein equipped with a beveled gear 91 which is engaged at times by an actuating pinion to transmit motion to the sprocket chains 56 and impart the desired travel to the squeegee carriage. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the beveled gear 91 is arranged adjacent the upper portion of the shaft 79 and between oppositely disposed beveled pinions 92 which are slidably mounted upon said shaft and connected by a sleeve 93. The `sleeve 93 is xed to or formed integral with a block 94 which is rigidly secured within a bracket 95 which is slidably mounted upon the housing frame 90, and means are provided to shift this bracket 95 vertically at times so as to cause one or `the other of the pinions 92 to mesh with the gear 91, the ends of the sleeve 93 being so constructed, as shown at 96, as to form clutches whereby the sleeve may be locked to the shaft 79 `for rotation therewith in either the upper or lower position. A spring 97 connected to the block 94 and to the housing frame 90 yieldably holds the sleeve 93 and the pinions 92 in the lowered position. Secured upon the rear side of the bracket 95 are opposed hooks 98 and 99, the hook 98 at the upper end of the bracket being turned downwardly and the hook 99 at the lower end of the bracket being turned upwardly, as shown. A latch 100 is mounted at the upper end of the housing frame 90 and is adapted to engage the hook 98 to thereby hold the bracket 95 in its raised position while a latch 101 is mounted upon the main frame to engage the hook 99 and hold the bracket in its lowered position. rlihe latch 100 is provided with a rearwardly projecting arm 102 to the end ofwhich is secured an arm 103 extending upwardly and connected tothe rear end of a link 104. r1`his link 1041 extends forwardly and is connected with the free end of a crank arm 105 at the upper end of a post 106 which has its lower end secured in a slide 107 mounted in an open frame or track 108 secured on the side of the frame 90, an expansion spring 109 disposed between the front end of the frame 108 and the front side of the slide 107 serving to hold the slide yieldably at the rear end of the. frame, as shown in Fig. 7. r1he spring is coiled around a guide rod 110fwhich also passes through the slide 107l and'thereby serves to retain it in its operative position. `The slide 107 projects into the path of a trip 111 which is secured upon the upper run of the adjacent sprocket chain 56 so that, when in the operation of the devicek the trip 111 impinges against the slide 107, the slide will' be pushed forward and a pull exerted through the link 104 and the arm 103 to rock the latch 100, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 7 and thereby release the hook 98, whereupon the bracket 95 will be free to descend and cause the upper pinion 92 to mesh with the gear 91 to reverse the direction of travel of the chain. The trip bracket 111 may be set at any desired point in the length of the chain 56 and the travel of the squeegee thereby adjusted to the lengthwise dimension of the work in hand. l

The latch 101 is rigidly connected by a short cross bar 130 with an arcuate lever 112 which extends longitudinally of the main frame and has its rear end connected to a link 113 which depends therefrom and is pivoted to the rear end of a lever 114 pivoted between its ends upon the main frame and having its front end pivoted to the upper end of a lifter 115. The lower end of the lifter link 115 is connected to a rod 116 which passes through the adjacent side of the main frame and is connected to the depending lug or crank 21 ofthe latch 19 whereby when an upward movement is imparted to the link 115 the latch will be rocked to be released from the hook 18 and the table may be tilted to discharge the work.

Immediately adjacent the gear 81, an eccen-J tric or cam 117 is secured upon the end ofthe shaft 25 and this cam bears against the under side of a block 118 which forms a part of a lifter frame adapted to engage the bracket 95 and raise the same. The block 118 is secured to a bracket 119 which passes around the shaft 7 9 and is slidably engaged with the lifter rod 86 above the upper abutment nut 85 while upon the upper side of said bracket is mounted a block 120 to which the lower end of a lifter rod 121 is rigidly secured, the upper end of said rod being provided with a cap plate 122 which at times bears against and extends across the lower edge of the bracket. 95, as

shown in Fig. 5. The bracket- 119 is guided I by the shaft 79 and the rod 86 and secured thereto is a rod 123 which is disposed between the bracket and the side of the main frame and is equipped with rollers 124 at its ends adapted to run upon the frame and thereby aid in maintaining the parts in a rectilinear path. y

The operating mechanism, which has just been described, is preferably disposed upon the left side of the machine so that it will not interfere with the tilting of the table 15 and the discharge of the work at the right side of the machine. The extension bar 52 at the left side of the machine carries a trip arln 125, which extends upwardly and is adapted to ride along the upper edge of the rocking arm 88, and also carries a trip arm 126 which deseA pends below the extension and is adapted to ride on the arcuate lever 112. Assuming the latch 101 to be in engagementwith the hook 99, as shown in Fig. 1, the squeegee will be traveling forward and the upper pinion 92 will be in mesh with the gear 91. As the squeegee reaches the forward limit of its movement, the trip arm 125 will ride on the rocking arm 88 and the trip arm 126 ride on the lever 112, the lever 112 being first engaged. The lever 112 will be thereby depressed so as to release the latch 101 from the hook 99 and at the same time the connections to the link 116 will be actuated to release the latch 19 and permit the table to rock so as to discharge the work. TheA latch 101 will be released before the. arm 88 is rocked so that there will be ample time for the discharge of the finished work, but as the arm 88 vides for an upward movement of the bracket 95 and such movement is imparted to the bracket by the cam 117 being rotated with the shaft 25 and consequently caused to act on the block 118 to raise the rod`121 which bears against the lower edge of the bracket 95 and will shift the same upwardly so that the lower pinion 92 will be caused to mesh with the gear 91 and the direction of travel of the squeegee will be reversed. As the bracket 95 moves upwardly, the hook 98 will be engaged by the latch 100 so that the bracket will be held in the raised position until released by the operation ofthe machine. TWhen the squeegee is traveling forwardly, the trip 111 is traveling rearwardly, said trip being secured to the upper run of the sprocket chain 56 and the carriage of the squeegee being secured to the lower run of the chain. Consequently, when the direction of travel is reversed and the squeegee moves rearwardly, the trip 111 will be eventually caused to ride against the slide 107 and release the latch 100 from the hook 98, as has been described and as will be understood,"

where-,u pon the spring 97 will cause downward movementof the bracket 95 and cause the upper pinion 92 to lnesh with the gea-r 91. Vhen the lifter rod 86 is raised through the action of the rocking arm 88 to carry the pinion 82 into mesh with the gear 81, the lifting frame, by engagement of the bracket 119 and connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have provided a very compact apparatus which -will be automatic 1n its operation and will need no attention on the part of the operator except to remove the finished work and substitute a blank to be' treated. The machine is intended primarily andmore particularly for producing show cards and other advertising matter and to that end the design of the declaration or announcement is formed by stenciling in a sheet of wax or other material which is placed on the silk screen, and the passage of the squeegee over the screen and over the coloring matter deposited thereon will force the coloring matter through the stencil and through the screen onto the cardboard or other blank on the table. If the stencil be omitted, the coloring matter will be forced through the silk screen in a solid sheet and the apparatus may thus be used for forming backgrounds or a primary coating. It is also possible to produce multicolored designs by providing a series of screens or stencils each carrying part of the design and using these stencils successively.

. Having thus describedthe invention, I claim: 1

1. An apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising a printing frame, said printing frame having a screen bottom, a squeegee device movable from end to end, of the printing frame in contact with the screen bottom thereof, a tank supported above the plane of travel of the squeegee device, means for automatically reversing the travel of the squeegee device, and means actuated by said squeegee device to discharge coloring matter from the tank into the printing frame as said device nears one limit of its travel.

2. An apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising a printing frame having a screen bottom, a tank supported above the printing frame near one end of the same for containing coloring matter, a squeegee device movable from end toend of the printing frame in contact with the screen bottom of the same, a cut-ofi' slidably mounted on the bottom of the tank, means whereby the squeegee device when moving in one direction will engage saidvcut-off and move it to discharging positionl and when moving in the other direction will clear the cut-off device, and yield, able means for holding the cut-off device normally in cut-oil' position.

3. In apparat-us for the purpose set forth, a printing frame having a screen bottom, a tank supported above the printing frame adjacent one end of the same to discharge coloring matter thereinto, a cut-olf slidably mounted on the bottom of the tank, a pressure element arranged to travel from end to end of the printing frame in contact with the screenbottom of the same, means on said pressure element to shift the cut-olf to discharging position, and a delector adjacent the tank for releasing said means from the cut-ofi whereby the cut-oli' will be cleared upon return movement of the pressure elelnent.

4. In an apparatus for the purpose set forth, a printing frame having a screen bottom, a tank supported above the printing frame adjacent one end of the same to discharge coloring matter into the frame, a cut-od slidably mounted on the bottom ot the tank and normally closing the same, yieldable means Jfor holding the cut-ott' in the closed position, a pressure element arranged to travel from end to end of the printing trame in contact with the screen bottom of the same, trigger devices mounted on said pressure element and adapted to engage the cut-oli and move the same to open position oas the pressure element travels in one direction, means for releasing said trigger devices from the cut-ofi, and means whereby upon reverse travel of the pressure element the trigger devices will clear the cut-ott and then reengage the same.

5. ln apparatus for the purpose set forth, a printing trame having a screen bottom, a tank supported above the printing frame adjacent one end ot the saine and having an opening in its bottom to discharge coloringl matter into the printing frame, a cut-0E slidably mounted on the bottom of the tank and normally extending over the outlet opening, yieldable means for holding the cut-od in the closed position, said cut-oil1 having a depending flange at one end provided with notches, closure plates mounted on said flange and normally extending over said notches, means for yieldably holding the plates in position over the notches, a pressure element arranged to travel from end to end or" the printing frame in contact with the screen bottom of the same` trigger devices mounted on said pressure element and arranged to engage said plates on the cut-oftq when traveling in one direction whereby to shift the. cut-oft trom over the opening in the bottom of the `tank, means for releasing the trigger devices from said plates, and means for yieldably holding the trigger devices in position to engage the plates whereby upon return travel of the pressure element the trigger devices will shift the plates from over the notches in the flange of the cut-ofi1 to move past the same.

6. Apparatus for the purpose set tort-h comprising a printing trame having a screen bottom, a tank supported above the printing traine adjacent one end of the same to supply coloring matter thereto, a pressure element movable from end to end of the printing frame in contact with the screen bottom thereof, vertically movable trigger devices mounted on the pressure element, and means on the pressure element to yieldably hold the trigger devices in raised position whereby upon travel in one direction said devices will engage a cut-olf on the tank to effect discharge of coloring matter and on return movement will clear the cut-off.

7. In apparatus for the purpose set forth, a printing fra-me having a screen bottom, means for supplying coloring matter to said `frame, a carriage mounted for travel longitudinally of the printing frame, an upper housing secured upon said carriage, an inner housing arranged within the upper-housing and'depending below the same, means for retaining the inner housing within the upper housing and vertically adjusting the same, a yieldable rubber carried by and below the inner housing to travel upon the bottom of the printing frame, means carried by the inner housing for vertically adjusting the rubber, the upper housing being constructed to give access to said adjusting mea-ns, and yieldable means within the upper housing acting on the inner housing to hold the rubber to the bottom of the printing-frame.

8. ln apparatus for the purpose set forth, a printing frame having a screen bottom, means for supplying coloring matter to the printing `frame, a carriage mounted for travel longitudinally o the printing frame, an upper casing secured upon the carriage, a second casing disposed within the upper casing, securing devices iXed to the inner casing and extending through the sides of the upper casing and movable vertically therein, a head block within the inner casing and depending from the bottom of the same, a enible rubber carried by and depending from the head block to travel over the bottom of the printing frame in contact therewith, vthreaded studs engaged in the head block and having heads projecting through the sidesof the inner casing, and yieldable means within the upper casing bearing on the inner casing to hold the rubber to the bottom of the printing frame.

9. ln apparatus tor the purpose set forth, a printing frame having a screen bottom, a carriage mounted for travel longitudinally of the printing frame, an upper casing secured upon the carriage, an inner casing mounted within theupper casing and depending through the bottom of the same, a head block Within said casing, a holder on the lower edge of the head block having ways formed at its front and rear edges, a cap provided on its upper side with projections adapted to enter said ways .by endwise engagement therewith, and a rubber secured in and depending from said cap to move over the bottom of the printing frame in contact therewith.

10. ln apparatus for the purpose set forth, a printing frame having a screen bottom, tracks at the sides of the printing frame, a carriage engaged with said tracks, means for e'ecting travel of the carriage along saidV tracks alternately in op osite directions, and a pressure device carrie by the carriage and adapted to travel over the bottom of the printing frame in contact therewith, projections on said pressure device at the ends thereof, and cam trip devices arranged adjacent the tracks at the opposite limits of travel of the carriage, said devices comprising bowed resilient plates extending upwardly in the paths of the projections on the pressure device and having their inner edges recessed whereby said projections may trav'el upwardly upon the cams and then pass downwardly through the recesses to ride under the cams upon return movement.

11. In apparatus for the purpose set'fo'rth, a main frame, a printing frame adapted to lit within the main frame, means at one end of the main frame to positively engage the adjacent end of the printing frame, a clamping bar slidably mounted in the main frame between the opposite end of the same and the end of the printing frame adjacent thereto, fixed bearings in the main frame and on said clamping bar, adjusting screws mounted through said bearings, and means for synchronously rotating the adjusting screws whereby to move the clamping bar into engagement with the printing frame to securely support the same.

12. In apparatus for the purpose set forth, a main frame, a printing frame adapted to fit within the main frame, teeth on one end of the main frame to engage the adjacent end of the printing frame, a clamping bar disposed between the opposite ends of the printing frame and the main frame and provided with teeth adapted to positively engage the presented end of the printing frame, and means for moving the clamping bar in to engagement with the printing frame.

13. In apparatus for the purpose set forth, a main frame, a table mounted in the main frame for lateral rocking movement, a printing frame secured in the main frame immediately over the table, means for holding the table against rocking movement, means for `releasing said holding means and effecting rocking movement of the table, means for expressing coloring matter from the printing frame onto work upon the table, and means whereby the table retaining and rocking means will be actuated in consonance with the means for expressing coloring matter.

14. In apparatus for the purpose set forth, a main frame, a printing frame c,secured in the main frame and having a screen bottom, a table mountedin the main frame for rocking movement immediately below the printing'frame, means for expressing coloring matter from the printing frame onto work deposited on the table, a latch on the main frame at one side thereof arranged to engage the table for holding it in its higher position, a crank shaft mounted on theside of the main frame, operative connections between said crank shaft and the table whereby the table may be lrocked to discharge Work, and means actuated by the color-expressing means for releasing the latch and actuating the crank shaft to rock the table.

15. In apparatus for the purpose set forth, a main frame, a printing frame secured in the main frame, a `gcarriage mounted on the main frame for travel longitudinally of the printing frame, a pressure device mounted on said carriage to travel over the bottom of the printing frame lin contact therewith, a table mounted in the main frame for lateral rocking movement and adapted to support work immediately under the printing frame, a latch mounted -on the main frame to hold the table in its raised position, a shaft mounted on the side of the main frame, operative connections between said-shaft and the table for rockin the table, means for eifecting travel of t e carriage, trip devices on the for effecting travel of the carriage longi tudinally of the printing frame, said means including a vertical driving shaft and shiftable gears mounted on said shaft whereby to effect travel of the carriage alternately in opposite directions, a table mounted for rocking movement immediately below the printing frame, a latch for normally restraining the table against rocking movement, a lever mounted upon the main frame, a trip device on the carriage adapted to ride on said lever, and link connections between said lever and the latch whereby to release the latch and permit rockingof the table.

17. In apparatus for the purpose set forth, a main frame, a printing frame secured in the main frame, a carriage mounted for travel on the main frame longitudinally of the printing frame, a work-supporting table mounted immediately below the printing frame for lateral rocking movement, a latch for retaining the table in work-supporting position, means for effecting travel of the carriage including a vertically `disposed driving shaft, a pinion slidably mounted on said shaft and adapted to be locked thereto,

a shaft mounted on the side of the main of said trip devices being adapted to release the latch and the other of said trip devices being adapted to impart vertical movement to the lifting rod whereby said pinion will-be caused to mesh lwith said gear and the crank shaft will rock the tablev to discharge the work.

1.8. In apparatus for the purpose set forth, a main frame, a printing frame, i a table mounted for rocking movement to support work immediately under the printing frame, means for normally holding the table againstv rocking movement, means for rocking the table, a carriage mounted on the main frame to travel longitudinally of the printing frame, and means whereby when the carriage reaches the limit of its movement in one direction the table will be released, rocked to discharge the work and returned to normal position vand the travel of the carriage will then be reversed.

19. In apparatus for the purpose set forth, a main frame, a printing frame secured in the main frame, a vertically disposed driving shaft mounted on the main frame adjacent one end of the same, opposed connected pinions slidably mounted on said shaft, a carriage mounted on the main frame for travel longitudinally of the printing frame,

endless chains secured to the carriage, a'shaft connected with sald chains, a-

operatively gear on sald shaft disposed between the connected pinions and adapted at times to be engaged by either of said pinions, and means controlled by travel of the carriage for vertically shifting said pinions whereby to reverse the travel-of the carriage. y

20. In apparatus for the purpose set forth,

for holding said pinions in either the raised or lowered position, and meanscontrolled by travel of the carriage for releasing said'latch devices and shifting the pinions whereby to. reverse travel of the carriage.

aov

in either the raised or lowered position, a'

lifting frame adapted to engage the lower end of the frame carrying the pinions, a lifting rod connected with the lower end of said lifting frame, a rocking arm connected at one end with said lifting rod, and trip devices traveling'with the carriage to release said latch devices and rock said arm whereby the vertically movable frame will be shifted to reverse the travel of the carriage.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature. i

LOUIS BLAND.

a main frame, a printing frame secured therein,a carriage mounted on the main frame for travel longltudinally of the printing frame, a vertically disposed driving shaft mounted on the main frame, opposed connected gears slidably mounted on said shaft, means whereby the pinions may be alternately locked to the shaft to rotate therewith, means to be engaged with and driven by said pinions for alternately moving the carriage 1n .opposite directions, means or holding the pinions in either the upper or lower position, and means controlled by travel of the carriage whereby to release said holding means and effect shifton the side of t 'e main frame, opposed conpinions to reverse the travel vof the nected pinions slidably mounted on said shaft,

means whereby said pinions may be locked to the shaft selectively to rotate therewith, gearing driven by either of said pinions to eicttmvel of the carriage, latch devices 

